Trainer Dan Skelton is hoping for a few winners at this week's three-day Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, which starts on Thursday.
The Alcester-based trainer's Aintree team will be headed Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos, who is a best-priced 16-1 with most bookmakers and is one of the leading British hopes for victory along with current 6-1 favourite Corach Rambler.
Skelton has had another successful season with several big winners and he also saddled two more at last month’s Cheltenham Festival with Langer Dan and Falvoir. The trainer was also boosted by having a winner on Merseyside today as 9-2 favourite Jeffery's Cross landed the £50,000 cavani.co.uk Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.
Speaking at Haydock, Skelton believes he has some good chances of victory over the three days at Aintree, including in the world's greatest steeplchase with Le Milos.
READ MORE: Full list of the 57 entries as Corach Rambler the favourite
He said: “We should have a really strong team heading to Aintree, we won’t be quite so heavy on the Thursday with maybe five or six runners, but on Friday and Saturday we’ve got plenty. We’ve probably got at least one in most races, so we’ve got a good bunch.
“Le Milos is in really good form and he worked really well this morning. I took him for an away day 10 days ago, so he was very good. He’s versatile in regards to the ground and I think he’ll stay the trip, so he’s got a good profile for the race.
“He’s a Coral Gold Cup winner and I can assure you that I was probably as fit as he was at Kelso! I was a bit embarrassed about it to be honest as I knew he’d need the run, but then when you get caught that late you do kick yourself a little bit. He was obviously a gallop short of winning that day but I know how much he’d done and how much he’s done since, so I know that will be well left behind.
“We’ve got some fresh ones to go to Aintree. We’ve got the likes of Pikar, West Balboa, Kateria, Grey Dawning and Calico – horses who have run big races all season and have missed Cheltenham and are really fresh for this. Then when you add in those who have been running and have been going consistently well, it should be a good line-up. I’m not going to be taking horses who I don’t think can win, I’ll just take the ones that we think can be competitive.
“I’m very lucky to be able to say that five or six runners on the Thursday is quiet for us, it’s a great position to be in. These big festivals are what owners get involved for and I think people are more realistic. You’ve got between eight and 10 runners jumping the last these days and I think that’s because horses are being aimed at the right races. It’s enjoyable.
“I know today is not our biggest day ever, but you see how many people are out the front and you think that we’re in good shape. We all know what next week is going to be like, it’s a totally different atmosphere to Cheltenham and it’s very enjoyable. If we can get a couple of winners that would be fantastic.
“The Grand National is the biggest race of the year, so be going there with a chance is really exciting.”
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
Meanwhile Joseph O'Brien's Fakir D'oudairies headlines nine entries as he looks for a record third successive win in the Marsh Chase at Aintree on Ladieds Day.
O'Brien made the decision to keep the eight-year-old old fresh for his hat-trick bid and did not run him at Cheltenham.
Hitman and French Dynamite, third and fourth in the Ryanair Chase, Donald McCain's Minella Drama and Hitman's Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Pic D'Orhy are among the potential runners.
Gordon Elliott's Gerri Colombe will look to get back to winning ways in the Air Charter Services Mildmay Novices' Chase. He suffered the first defeat of his career at Cheltenham when going down narrowly to The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory.
Willie Mullins' Bronn outran his 50-1 odds in that race in third and may take the runner-up on again, while Stage Star, winner of the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, has the option of stepping up in trip.
In the Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle Jamie Snowden's Festival hero You Wear It Well could take on the boys. She is one of 28 entries with Nicky Henderson's Luccia another mare in contention.
There are several who made no show in the Supreme at Cheltenham such as Tahmuras, Strong Leader, Chasing Fire and Rare Edition looking to bounce back. In contrast, the likes of Hullnback, Altobelli, Parramount and Nemean Lion have looked impressive in lesser grades.
Mullins has the top four in the weights left in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase in Haut En Couleurs, Burrows Saint, Ciel De Neige and Fan De Blues. Gavin Cromwell's prolific winner Final Orders, Sam Thomas' Grand Sefton hero Al Dancer and Dan Skelton's Ashtown Lad are other major fancies, along with Gesskille for Cheshire-based joint trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.
